Europe’s largest drone testing centre opens in Swindon

Britain’s Armed Forces are to be equipped with the latest drone technology after Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis MP opened Europe’s largest drone centre in Swindon on Friday (12 June).

The new Uncrewed Systems Centre (USC), based at the DroneTEX facility in Swindon, will serve as the UK’s focal point for the development and testing of the latest drone technology, according to the Ministry of Defence.

The centre will help the UK’s Armed Forces stay at the leading edge of innovation and take advantage of constantly evolving technologies, the department said.

At 545,000 sq ft, DroneTEX is the size of more than 10 football pitches and will be used to rapidly develop and field new capabilities. The Ministry of Defence said the facility will drive collaboration with industry, allies, and partners.

Lessons from Ukraine and Iran

The Ministry of Defence said the conflicts in Iran and Ukraine show that drones are rapidly reshaping warfare, with cheap systems destroying high-value targets and innovation cycles measured in weeks rather than years.

According to the department, Ukraine uses roughly 200,000 drones a month, while there were 700 drones launched per day at the height of the conflict in Iran.

The Defence Secretary met defence industry leaders, investors and military specialists as he toured the facility on the day of the opening.

Speaking at the opening of the USC, Jarvis said the character of warfare is changing fast, and that uncrewed systems are rapidly evolving and reshaping conflicts on land, in the air and at sea, from Ukraine to the Middle East.

Jarvis described DroneTEX as Europe’s largest drone test and development facility, adding that it would help ensure the UK embraces technologies that are redefining warfare.

He said that where once new technology could take years to reach the Armed Forces, the UK would now be able to develop and field new technology in a matter of weeks.

“In this new era, those who innovate fastest will win,” Jarvis said.

Support for British businesses

Jarvis said the centre would work with British companies, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), unlocking exports and creating high-skilled jobs.

He added that it would harness the power of data and digital integration as the UK embraces AI and autonomy.

This includes the new Task Force RAID (Rapid AI Delivery), which the Prime Minister and Chief of the Defence Staff announced earlier in the week, Jarvis said.

The Ministry of Defence said the Strategic Defence Review announced a major increase in autonomy investment of £2 billion in this parliament, taking total defence investment in autonomous systems to £4 billion.

According to the department, the Ministry of Defence has spent over £450 million on uncrewed systems since July 2024, including £300 million on their research and development. In the last year, UK Defence Innovation has injected over £142 million in rapid investment to scale up production of drones and anti-drone weapons.

UK Defence Innovation is the focal point for innovation within the Ministry of Defence, backed by a ringfenced annual budget of at least £400 million, which the department said enables UK companies to scale up innovative prototypes rapidly.

The Ministry of Defence said the centre forms part of the largest sustained defence spending boost since the Cold War.

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